A memorial plaque for great Azerbaijani composer, People`s Artist of the USSR Gara Garayev has been unveiled in the Russian capital of Moscow.
The plaque at the Tryokhprudniy Pereulok Street commemorates the home Gara Garayev lived in.
The plaque was made by Azerbaijani sculptor Huseyn Hagverdi and architect Pyotr Kozlov.
Speaking to the unveiling ceremony, Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu said “it is a remarkable day for me”. “First of all, because Gara Garayev was my teacher.”
“Gara Garayev brought up the entire generation of world-renowned Azerbaijani composers. So I`m very happy that a memorial plaque to my teacher is unveiled as part of my tenure as an ambassador.”
The ambassador also praised Azerbaijan-Russia relations, saying they were being strengthened in a variety of areas, particularly culture.
Chief of Moscow Cultural Department Sergei Kozlov read out a congratulatory message of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
“Another great Azerbaijani composer is immortalized in Moscow today. We are very happy that the memorial plaque is unveiled in such a historical place in our capital,” Mr. Sobyanin said in his message.
Russian deputy culture minister Nikolay Malakov hailed the unveiling of the memorial plaque as “a remarkable” event.
He said the culture ministries of Russia and Azerbaijan had recently signed a bilateral cooperation program.
Azerbaijani culture and tourism minister Abulfas Garayev thanked the Moscow government and Russia`s culture ministry on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev for assistance in installing the memorial plaque to the composer.
Other speakers at the ceremony included chair of the Duma Committee on the Commonwealth of Independent States and Ties with Compatriots Leonid Slutsky, People`s Artists of the USSR, conductors Vladimir Fedoseyev and Boris Akimov.
Gara Garayev`s son, professor at the Chaykovsky Moscow State Conservatoire Faraj Garayev thanked the organizers on behalf of his family.
Participants in the unveiling ceremony included Azerbaijani first deputy prime minister Yagub Eyyubov, Russian political, culture and art figures, employees of Azerbaijan`s Embassy, representatives of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia, and journalists.